Protests sweep France, Spain as masked mobs loot shops, clash with cops; 1,100 held
Videos shared online showed people trapped inside shops, including the department store El Corte Ingles, after shutters were lowered to prevent looting. Other footage showed hooded demonstrators dressed in black smashing shop windows and taking goods, sometimes encouraged by people watching online. Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni warned that acts of vandalism "will not go unpunished".
Protests erupted across France and Spain on Saturday, devolving into violent clashes and vandalism. In Barcelona, hooded protesters took over central Plaza de Catalunya, setting fires and looting shops. Spanish Interior Minister Núria Parlon reported nearly 1,000 arrests, with a quarter of them minors. Over 30 fires were lit and 14 businesses were either vandalized or looted.
The demonstrations were promoted on social media under the slogan "Institut Indignats," referencing the student protests in France. Videos showed demonstrators trapped inside stores and hooded individuals smashing windows and stealing goods.
In France, similar unrest gripped Paris and other cities. Demonstrators, inspired by the "Acte II" movement, clashed with law enforcement in the streets. The protests, focused on high living costs and school funding, drew hundreds of thousands, with interior ministry estimates ranging from 410,000 to nearly 800,000 nationwide. Clashes broke out in major cities, with police responding using tear gas, sound grenades, and water cannons.
Over 70,000 security personnel were deployed across France to maintain order. The unrest, occurring six months before presidential elections, reflected widespread dissatisfaction with the establishment.
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